Short-term effects of irbesartan treatment on microalbuminuria in patients with normotensive type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the short-term effects of irbesartan treatment on microalbuminuria in patients with normotensive type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A total of 40 normotensive type 2 diabetes patients (mean age 55.1+/-11.4 years) who had microalbuminuria were included in this non-comparative and prospective research study. The study took place in Ege University Hospital, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey, between January 2005 and April 2005. Patients were treated with irbesartan 300mg/day for 3 months. Physical examination, medical history, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, microalbuminuria, diabetes markers fasting and non-fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], lipid profile, creatinine and urea were obtained at baseline and after 3 months of irbesartan treatment. The primary assessment criterion was the change in microalbuminuria.


RESULTS
The mean microalbuminuria level at baseline was 110.8+/-93.1mg/24 hours. It significantly decreased to 45.6+/-62.5mg/24 hours at the end of 3 months of irbesartan treatment (p<0.001). When patients were stratified according to the change in the microalbuminuria status after treatment, 90% of them either returned to normo albuminuria or their microalbuminuria decreased. Both diastolic and systolic blood pressures, fasting and non-fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c were found to be significantly decreased after 3 months of irbesartan treatment compared to pre-treatment values. The positive effect of irbesartan on microalbuminuria occurs independently from HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, and blood pressures.


CONCLUSIONS
The short-term treatment of irbesartan is effective to decrease microalbuminuria in normotensive type 2 diabetes patients, independent of its antihypertensive effect. There is a need for multicenter prospective studies to investigate this further.
Cetinkalp
Sevki S
SS
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ege University Medical School, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
Karadeniz
Muammer M
MM
Erdogan
Mehmet A
MA
Ozgen
Gokhan A
GA
Yilmaz
Candeger O
CO
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077405:Irbesartan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077405:Irbesartan